A local court on Wednesday accepted the police’s request seeking an extension of Pakitan Tehreek-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill’s physical remand in a sedition case.
The reserved verdict was delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, following which Gill was handed over to the police for two more days of physical remand.
The court stated that it is not fully satisfied that the PTI leader's investigation is complete, adding that Gill should be handed over to the police for another 48 hours to conclude the investigation in the case.
Earlier, presiding over the hearing today, Justice Zeba Chaudhry was presented the record by the investigation officer.
After the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments, the court had reserved its decision on the appeal.
Fawad demands judicial inquiry
PTI leader and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry, speaking to the media outside the courtroom, demanded a judicial inquiry over Gill's alleged torture while in police custody.
Fawad said an independent judicial board should be formed and maintained that the IHC should have formed the board, however, the high court transferred the case back to the district court.
He also claimed that the treatment meted out to Gill was part of the "regime change operation against Pakistan".
Urging the government to "realise the gravity of the situation", Fawad said politics can only happen if the country remains.
On Tuesday, the IHC ordered the judicial magistrate to hear the prosecution's physical remand appeal of Gill, again and decide on the matter.
During Tuesday’s hearing, IHC Acting Chief Justice Amir Farooq declared the Advocate General Islamabad Jahangir Jadoon's review appeal maintainable, asking the judicial magistrate to hear the matter again and decide it on merit.
The IHC had earlier in the day reserved its decision on the AGI's plea. It later accepted the AGI's request, who had argued that the PTI leader's physical remand was needed to collect additional evidence, such as his phone and the names of those who were behind the offence.
Gill was arrested from Bani Gala Chowk in Islamabad last week after a video clip of his controversial remarks went viral on social media. He was subsequently booked on charges of inciting mutiny in the military.